Blowing Bubbles 149 (September 2024)

A Word from the Editor Welcome

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

David Blackmore CONTRIBUTORS

David Bowden, Olivia Elliott, ExWHUEmployee, Lucy Farrell, Geoff Hillyer, Bradley Holland, Marcus Johns, David Meagher, George Parris, Brian Penn, Emily Pulham, Greg Richardson, Julian Shea, Chris Wheal, Sean Whetstone, Meirion Williams PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ian Burt, Nicky Hayes, Paul Marriott, Dawud Marsh ENQUIRIES

editor@blowing-bubbles.co.uk advertising@blowing-bubbles.co.uk

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Players arrived, others left and I was struggling to keep up this summer

I’m always glad once the transfer window slams shut because it gives me anxiety like nothing else when putting together this magazine.

I’d delayed publishing August’s issue because we signed Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Füllkrug, Guido Rodríguez in quick succession. And believing that maybe that would be it for us this summer, I wanted to try to get some references to these three in August.

But we didn’t have the space or opportunity to get the full lowdown on this trio before going to print, which I was keen to correct in this issue and it was great to hear from Leeds, Dortmund and Betis fans on their former heroes.

Then we go and sign Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo and Carlos Soler and let Nayef Aguerd, James Ward-Prowse, Kurt Zouma and Maxwel Cornet leave. Thankfully our wonderful designer is a United fan so we’ve been

able to squeeze in a piece about our new full back.

It’ll be good to see more of Todibo and Soler on the pitch in claret and blue before we cover them. And it’ll be interesting to hear from the fans of the clubs we’ve let players go to and see how they are settling in.

Despite Aguerd’s heartfelt post on social media, he has only left on loan as have the others. A decent season away from east London and they might be welcomed back into the fold.

Albeit I can’t really see that happening for Zouma or Cornet, and you can put money now on Ward-Prowse scoring a free kick against us in November.

Thanks to our summer spend, we have more voices in this issue than I think we’ve ever had before. Enjoy.

GEORGE PARRIS

The Hammers’ hero pulls no punches in his EXCLUSIVE column

We’ve not seen what our new-look

West Ham can do just yet but this month we will

It’s been an interesting start to the season so far because you can see the promise is there but it’s always difficult to blend new players in.

In all honesty, I’ve not seen too much difference between West Ham last season and this season, it’s similar sort of play. We’ve just got different personnel.

But I think the Palace victory was crucial when you looked at the two home games we had, which were both tough on paper.

At least with the Man City one, it seemed like a good defeat if that makes sense?

Normally we’re up against it and don’t get chances but we had a good go at it in the second half and the fact we scored, it makes it look more promising as opposed to losing three or four nil.

The Villa game could’ve gone either way, but our season won’t be judged on our games against City and Villa but on the Palace and Fulham games.

Let’s see how we get on this month. That’ll give us a better idea of how we might do this season.

I always think we’re currently around 7th to 10th but if we win all our games this month, I think we’ll be in for a good season, even possibly creeping into the top six.

But if we lose all our games this month, then we’ll be looking over our shoulders a bit.

It was a very busy summer for us with lots of comings and goings. At one stage, it felt like if you didn’t look at the news for a day or so, the next time you looked, we’d have signed another two players.

It was incredible, and we’ve not spent a huge amount on these players. The club has certainly put their money where their mouth is this summer.

I think Summerville will help us as the season progresses.

Although he's got to try to replace Bowen or Kudus, unless Bowen goes up top and then he gets a spot on the wing.

I haven't seen enough of Rodriguez but he looks a good buy and Kilman looks decent too.

Wan-Bissaka is also a good buy. He looks decent, and we’ve now

got two decent right backs.

It was, however, brave to let Ward Prowse and a couple of the others go. The manager will live and die by those decisions.

But that's part of the management side of things. If you back yourself and back the players you're going to get in, then you've got to get the results otherwise you know what's going to happen.

When you look at our squad now, it does look like we have got better options than last season.

I’m still not convinced we’ve resolved our striker issue as Fullkrug and Antonio are two different types of players.

The German international isn't as athletic as Antonio but he may possess more quality on the ball.

We'll have to adjust accordingly depending on who is playing. I can't see them both playing together.

But like all clubs, you're governed by injuries. If we don't get too many, then we have a decent squad but it might only take a couple of key areas and then maybe we may find we're a bit short.

The Ex-Files

@ExWHUemployee gives you the word from the street

It’s been a busy summer but will we regret those we let go and others we didn’t sign?

What a busy summer transfer window 2024 we ended up having but we might not be done yet.

As I write, there is the potential that we could be adding a further player after the deadline in former Sheffield United defender John Egan.

The Republic of Ireland defender played in a behind closed door friendly against Dagenham and Redbridge and we’re still contemplating at this stage whether to make him our next signing.

Kaelan Casey, the talented England Under 19s defender, was not allowed to go on loan as it was expected that he would be given the fourth choice centre back role.

But it appears Lopetegui may prefer to bring in an experienced pro in Egan.

One summer signing I wanted to flag was the capture of unknown quantity Luis Guilherme.

Tim Steidten had been to Brazil a number of times prior to his summer visit and hadn’t come back with any players so he was under pressure to sign this window.

Guilherme is the biggest gamble

of the window for us. An 18 year old who was relatively inexperienced in Brazil let alone in European football, but one who is thought to have a huge amount of potential.

The only slight thing that this deal has caused as a negative is that his wages are far more than any of our other 18 year olds.

This could give us a few negotiation problems when it comes to giving these players deals as they could use Guilherme as the benchmark.

If he turns out to be a superstar then it’s all fine but should he be a flop, we may have created another Reece Oxford situation where the club doesn’t like to give out those contracts anymore.

Another player where there are a few question marks over is Niclas Fullkrug and I am writing this on the back of hearing he could be ruled out with an injury picked up on international duty.

The curse of West Ham continues. When I look at the prototype of forward that works at West Ham, he doesn’t seem to fit the bill because he isn’t blessed with

pace, power and dribbling ability which seems to be what we need.

In terms of departures, most of the players that went were expected. Perhaps Ward-Prowse going was a disappointment, because I think he maybe could have offered us options from the bench.

Zouma’s departure I understood as he is finished at the top level, as sad as that is, and Aguerd always seemed to not be entirely happy at West Ham so it’s probably the right time for him to go.

Cornet is a strange one and I’d be very interested to see what impact he has at Southampton because he really hasn’t done it for us but you could argue he hasn’t had the chance.

The West Ham Way Events at the Colour Factory are back. Before the Ipswich game, we will welcome former player and manager Alan Curbishley as our guest.

You can get tickets here: tickettailor.com/events/prematchevents/1310339

Our guest before the Manchester United game will be Tony Gale. Patreons get discounted tickets: patreon.com/thewesthamway

Pub Talk

The Blowing Bubbles team settle down to put the world to rights...

What have you made of our start to the season?

David Meagher: It's early days but there can be no doubt that the new set up is more ambitious as evidenced by an impressive transfer window and to some extent on the pitch. The win over Palace was important as our opening fixtures are challenging and we need to just get some points and let the side gel. We look stronger in defence and have a lot of good attacking options. Steidten et al have delivered the ingredients for a top six side and it's now up to J'Lo to deliver. All the pointers are positive, but we are still developing our rhythm.

Meirion Williams: I agree with David, it is early days. Villa was a disappointment, Palace was a nice

surprise. The Bournemouth game was the usual huff and puff in a cup competition and the result against Citie was predictable. September will give us a better understanding of where our season will go but it does look promising just on performances alone. With the cup giving us an away day at Anfield, it looks like we can concentrate on the league until January so that has to be a positive.

Paul Brand: How predictable was it that Duran would find the winner in our first game? It’s slightly peculiar that a 1-1 draw at home to Villa last season was more negatively received than a narrow defeat, but overall David is right that the ingredients are there and fans will draw encouragement from any signs that they are blending into something a bit tasty.

David Blackmore: If someone has offered me three points before a ball was kicked, I would’ve taken it. It truth, I probably would’ve take two points. Villa are a side very much up the up so whilst it was disappointing not to take our chances against them, our season won’t be judged on our results against them. The performance was good though, as it was against City. The result at Selhurst Park was a complete shock to me. I wasn’t there but based on the highlights, on another day, Palace could’ve scored loads. I’ll take that win every day of the week.

What did you make of our transfer window overall?

DM: It's been a brilliant transfer window where we have brought in a healthy mix of experience and

developing talent. The defence looks considerably stronger and also better on the ball. Summerville and Fullkrug need to settle in but look the business. I think the bizarre circumstances by which we still have Paqueta is a big bonus and some folk are referring to Soler as Payet mark two. I think JWP's departure was a mistake as he is Premier League proven. The other departures - Aguerd, Zouma and Cornet - had run their course and needed a switch.

MW: A bit of a shock I have to say, we even had activity on deadline day which is pretty much unheard of. Of the outgoings I was delighted to see the back of Zouma and much to the relief of the RSPCA, he no longer plays in the UK. As for Cornet, well he’s no great loss. I was disappointed to see JWP leave. I thought he has never been given a chance in the claret and blue. I like the look of Summerville and Soler is an intriguing one. It’s early days but to see Sully open the

purse strings was a revelation.

PB: Like Meirion, I think JWP still had a lot to offer and was surprised to see him go, but Soler should be better on the ball, which is what we want. And when I’m quibbling over a decent player being replaced by a younger talent with 14 caps for Spain, then you can tell there’s not much to moan about this window. Which makes a change.

DB: I was shocked by not only the number of players we’ve signed but also the calibre. We’ve clearly backed Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten has worked his magic. I’ve also been surprised at the players we’ve let go - James Ward Prowse being one of them. I felt like his stats from his first season were up there with our best last season. But I respect the manager for coming in and making calls like this and also letting club captain Kurt Zouma go too.

What have you made of our new

signings so far?

DM: Early days but already I like Kilman, and Wan Bissaka has been excellent and can play either side. Rodriguez looks to be a strong partner for the excellent Alvarez. The rest have only had warm-up time so far.

MW: Kilman looks good as does Summerville. I think it’s early days yet on the others but at least now it seems we have strength in depth.

PB: Kilman has been the standout, closely followed by AWB. Rodriguez looked to be getting up to speed against Bournemouth and City. Now we just need Füllkrug to start firing.

DB: Unsurprisingly, I agree with the others with Kilman. Hopefully he’ll be able to shore up the defence. Wan Bissaka looks decent too and as David says, Rodriguez has looked great. I feel like Fullkrug - based on what I saw him do for

Germany this summer - will be great coming off the bench for us once he gets up to speed with the Prem and I’m looking forward to seeing what Soler and Summerville can do as the season progresses.

Based on what you've seen so far, what do you think is our best starting XI, and why?

DM: Unusually for West Ham we have a lot of options. Areola, Kilman, Wan Bissaka, Paqueta, Alvarez, Kudus and Bowen should start every game if they are fit. The other four slots should rotate according to the opponents. Against the top four sides, I think Coufal and Rodriguez get the nod ahead of Emerson and Soler. Soucek is a real conundrum as his aerial stats are superb but our link play stutters when he is part of the chain. Mavropanos has looked very solid, but Todibo is class if he can adapt to the Premier League. Either are decent options. I think Antonio still has a battering ram role, but Fullkrug should usurp him from the starting line up as his link play and finishing is better. Summerville can be our supersub replacement for Bowen and Kudus.

MW: I think David and I have been chatting in the pub too long as I have to agree with him on Areola, Kilman, Wan Bissaka, Paqueta, Alvarez, Kudus and Bowen. I would add to that group Summerville, Fullkrug and Todibo. That leaves me with Coufal for the last place. Unlike David I’m not a fan of Mavropanos or Antonio though.

PB: Much as I love him, I’m not sure how Coufal is still getting in David and Meirion’s starting line-ups. For me it’s Areola, AWB, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson, Alvarez, Rodriguez, Paquetá, Bowen, Kudus, Füllkrug. But the other guys are right that rotation is key to a good season and a starting line-up should never be set in stone.

DB: I agree with a number of the names that the others have suggested. I think the biggest headache for me is who to partner at the back with Kilman. Mavropanos always makes at least one potentially catastrophic mistake a game but I feel like Todibo isn’t quite where we need him to be yet. For me, Antonio still gets a place while Fullkrug gets up to speed with the league.

We play three other London sides in September. Of all the London clubs in the Premier League, rank them in order of those you like least?

tion for Everton who have been my fantasy relegation selection for many years. I am truly relishing their current predicament.

MW: Spurs has to be first, closely followed by Arsenal and then Chelsea. As for Fulham and Palace, it’s a toss up. I guess Fulham just get the nod based on history more than anything else and I’m not talking about them taking our greatest player Bobby Moore. It’s more to do with them being one of a few to charge over £50 for an away ticket before they were capped. I also still haven’t forgiven them for the statue at their ground of that great football hero Michael Jackson.

PB: Arsenal are beginning to compete with Spurs for most hated. In fact I’m going to put Spurs second just so they still don’t win anything. Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea, Palace, and Fulham. My dad’s a south Londoner and I grew up going to Craven Cottage as well as Upton Park so will always have a soft spot for them, except perhaps when beating us 5-0.

DM: I've come to hate them all but in terms of who I like to beat most it's Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal, Palace, Fulham. Can I add a special men-

DB: For me, it’s Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal but like Paul says, I feel like Arsenal are possibly close behind if not equal with Spurs, just because of how they behave under Arteta. I think I hated Chelsea more when they won’t as much of a joke. I was on the books at Fulham growing up so I’ve always had a soft spot for them, and I’m always glad all over when our games against Palace are over. But despite hating their postgoal song, I’ve got a lot of respect for them.

Guido Rodriguez joined Betis in 2020, shortly before the arrival of Manuel Pellegrini as manager, and as part of Pellegrini's transformation of the club, he was a key player for us over the past four years.

If you can identify one tactical change which literally transformed the fortunes of Betis from 2020 onwards, it was the adoption of the 'double pivot' defensive midfield system which has become a permanent feature of their style of play.

Guido thrived in his place as a defensive midfielder, alongside the vastly experienced Portuguese player William Carvalho, playing slightly more forward. Between them they provided a defensive stability and an assuredness to pass the ball around the pitch.

Prior to Pelligrini's arrival and the eventual adoption of this usual 4-2-3-1 system for most games, Betis were known in La Liga for leaking goals at an alarming, record-breaking rate.

As well as stopping Betis conceding goals, Guido also scored a sprinkling of goals himself over the past few seasons.

He has a decent shot from about 20 yards out but it's not something he's counted on for.

Maybe he hasn’t got the attention of the more spectacular players in recent times, such as Joaquin, Canales or Fekir, but he was very much valued for his consistency and reliability to 'do a job' as a quality defensive midfielder.

He can tackle, tidy up in front of defence, pick a short pass or spray a long, accurate ball upfield.

‘Rodriguez

Guido Rodriguez

is reliable and could be a key player for West Ham’

What

to expect from our new midfielder? Real Betis fan Simon Needham has high hopes for the Argentine

The Betis fans wanted Guido to stay, often singing ‘Guido, Quedate’ at games, when his future seemed up in the air.

He apparently had a four-year contract which was allowed to 'run out' and I'm not sure if that was a desire on his part to leave and seek a new challenge, or a lack of effort on the part of Betis to renew it.

There was some disappointment therefore in the sense that we'd lost a quality player, and also potentially missed out on a considerable transfer fee.

From another perspective however, after four years in charge, Manuel Pelligrini has clearly set about a policy of rejuvenating the squad as the club looks towards the future.

There was a rumour and expectation that Guido already had a deal lined up, pretty much all sorted, to move to FC Barcelona.

When that appeared to fall through, it was a big surprise to see that he'd moved to West Ham, but the general feeling is you've got yourselves a terrific player for this season, and on a free transfer.

Certainly, if the other signings the club have made all fall into place, you've improved your squad on last year.

Nevertheless he'll always be remembered at Betis I think for being part of 'that' team that won the Copa del Rey in 2022 - only the club's third ever Cup success in its 115 year history and the first win since 2005.

Will he be a success at West Ham? I sincerely hope so. I think the key is for the Hammers fans to be patient and allow him to adapt to the English league - it's often a difficult transition at first from La Liga.

But the other consideration I think is to keep playing him in that 'double pivot' role that he is so used to, alongside another quality player.

It all depends on Lopetegui's plans for him in the team I guess. The Betis fans certainly wish him luck.

When Niclas Füllkrug was brought to Dortmund, he was a popular figure in the Werder Bremen locker room and among fans.

He was an effective goal-scorer with a strong hit rate of a goal every other match during his four years with the club.

The Hannover-born striker was brought in to compensate for the absence of Sébastian Haller due to his cancer, and BVB fans questioned the move at the time.

The following season our new striker proved the critics wrong. Füllkrug regularly put in solid performances and did what was expected of him.

In simple terms, like Marmite what he turned out to be is exactly what it says on the outside of the pot with the yellow label, looks, and tastes like marmite, and is marmite.

Love it or leave it, and we all feel differently about the black stuff, it is what it is and there is a lot to be said.

Twelve goals in 31 games during the 23/24 season and Füllkrug, who had a contract at the Westfalenstadion until 2026, was an integral part of the plans for the coming season.

We had got used to him in the squad and his performances last season were more than enough to justify that trust.

Rumours about West Ham came out of nowhere. Füllkrug played a solid European Championship for Germany, and interest could be expected, even from the Premier League.

But would he jump ship? BVB

‘Füllkrug will link up well with others and thrive on good service’

Ben McFadyean, the founder of the Dortmund Fan Club London 2013, says Niclas could have a solid impact

will be playing in the Champions League next season, and Füllkrug reached the final with them last season.

The prospects under the new coach, and former player, Nuri

Sahin are good. Dortmund is a good place to be right now. And yet it happened very quickly and within two days, Füllkrug was on his way to the Premier League. To put it bluntly, Borussen, as

BVB fans are known, was left confused as to the motivation behind this move.

The motivations? On the one hand, there's the money. £27m is a lot of money for an ageing striker who came to Dortmund for 15 million last season.

Sebastian Kehl, our sporting director, has made some expensive signings this summer, not least Germany internationals Waldemar Anton and Serhou Guirassy both from VfB Stuttgart and they needed to recover some of the money.

After a brush with bankruptcy in 2005, the club don't spend more than they take in. It's just how things are done and we like it that way.

Füllkrug himself did not speak about his motivation to leave, but in a modern football world where much of what happens appears stage-managed anyway, even a personality like Füllkrug, who by all accounts is a down-to-earth character is not likely to give much away. We are left guessing.

Is it the future sporting direction of BVB that perhaps doesn't suit him? Or even the new coach that he doesn't get on with?

Or is it simply the dream most players in the Bundesliga have, that of playing in England?

The most obvious argument and one most of us can relate to, like Marmite, is money. English clubs pay far higher salaries.

And yet, like most BVB fans, I don't feel any bad blood whatsoever. The love for Füllkrug remains, it was short but sweet, it's a shame because he is a good striker who was certainly part of coach Sahin's previous plans.

He will have to realign those plans just like we do every season. What remains is to wish Niclas Füllkrug all the best in his new role.

I might have written the story differently when it started out but as they say in Dortmund "Spieler kommen, Spieler gehen, Borussia bleibt bestehen" (the players come, the players go, Borussia remains).

I was at the London Stadium for our former striker's debut against Celta Vigo, only 20,000 saw the game as a result of the boycott about the loss of the concessions, but for me it was memorable either way.

Niclas follows in the footsteps

of Sebastian Haller and Andrei Yarmolenko, what remains to say is thank you Fülle, and be lucky.

Fullkrug is capable of scoring a variety of goals, from typical poacher’s goals from within the six yard box to longer range goals from outside the box, he can also link up with midfielders coming through to create chances.

His hold up play looks precise and clever that brings midfielders coming through the chance to go in on goal.

West Ham have players that are capable of linking well with him in that scenario, Kudus, Bowen and Summerville.

West Ham also have players that can create chances for him, in particular Paqueta.

If I have any concerns it would be the demands at his age in terms of pace and physicality of the Premier League, especially as he hasn’t played outside of Germany before.

However he has shown in the national team, especially at the home Euros this summer, he is more than a match for any opponent. If he can adjust to the league, he could have a solid impact at West Ham.

Füllkrug's role

Niclas Füllkrug is an experienced striker with a strong reputation in the Bundesliga, and while his time at Dortmund was brief, I personally won’t forget his goal against Paris St Germain in the Champions League.

He thrives on physicality and positioning rather than pace, and in a nutshell, he’s a bit of a unit.

At 6’2” he's a throwback to the classic target man. He’s strong and whilst not blessed with pace he will use his body to hold off defenders and bring others into play.

His ability to win aerial duels will be a massive asset for West Ham but it's going to be imperative your wingers or fullbacks deliver quality crosses and he’ll need pace in and around him, especially in the Premier League.

He is a quality finisher though, give him an opportunity and he’ll usually put it away.

I also expect him to resonate with the West Ham faithful though because he's not flashy, he’s efficient. It’s a trait that often goes underappreciated and he doesn’t take himself too seriously which I think the fans will appreciate.

At Dortmund, he wasn’t the focal

‘Niclas

is a classic target man with a good eye for goal’

But a lack of pace is one of Füllkrug’s weaknesses says Dortmund fan Matthew Smith about the German star

point of our attack, but he knew how to put the ball in the back of the net when given the opportunity, the late equaliser against Leipzig from the bench to rescue a vital point for us last season is a great example.

His lack of pace is something that could be exposed in the Premier League, especially against teams that like to play a high line.

He’s not going to beat defenders for speed, so West Ham's success with Füllkrug will largely depend on how well the team adapts to his style of play.

If you’re playing 4-3-3 then it’ll be vital to create width from crosses and to get Bowen and Kudus up there with him.

Füllkrug has also had his fair share of injuries and whilst he managed to stay relatively fit during his season at Dortmund, a lingering concern remains especially in a physically demanding Premier League. The money you’ve paid at this stage of his career is quite high in my opinion.

Obviously it's early days for him at West Ham but if he’s given a chance, scores a few goals then I can see him gaining a bit of a cult status.

The way he carries himself on the pitch, his work ethic and professionalism, the gap in his teeth, dare I say it he’s a bit more humble and relatable than some of the flashier personalities. Perhaps he’s your new Bobby Zamora.

His ability to come off the bench and make an impact in tight games was invaluable for Dortmund and you can see he’s had that role for Germany too, he has the knack for scoring important goals in big moments.

So, what can West Ham fans expect? I don’t think Füllkrug will be your main source of goals, but he will be a valuable addition to your squad.

His style of play should fit well with West Ham’s approach, especially if you’re looking for someone to hold up the ball and bring others into the game. If your wingers can deliver crosses, Füllkrug will thrive.

When Fosun international purchased Wolves in 2016, there was only one man they wanted for the job.

Kenny Jackett had done a brilliant job steering the club back to the Championship after a ridiculous relegation to League One, but things had gone stale and the double promotion hadn't happened.

In truth, he was never going to get the chance to try again, as the new owners wanted their own man in.

Under the guidance of unofficial club adviser Jorge Mendes, Spain’s U21s manager Julen Lopetegui was targeted as the man to get Wolves back to the Premier League.

After a positive interview period, it seemed only a matter of time, only for the Spanish national team to come calling at the last minute.

The choice then was obvious and Wolves endured a crazy season under Italian legend Walter Zenger and then Paul Lambert, until the Nuno era began.

After scaling the heights of European football once more, Nuno's time too came to an end, and he was replaced by the relatively inexperienced Bruno Lage.

In all honesty, that season was great until investment was withheld in the January window which led to the wheels falling off.

The following season started as badly as the last ended, and Lage was sacked after playing star midfielder Ruben Neves in central defence away at West Ham. With a replacement not on the

‘He’s

seen as a stroppy figure but Julen will get results for your club’

Wolves supporter Stu Hall explains why West Ham players and fans could enjoy Lopetegui in charge

cards, the club turned to academy coach Steve Davis whose last job in mens football was in nonleague.

This backstory may seem unnecessary, but it is important to put into context the job Lopetegui did at Wolves.

When he was appointed, six and a bit years after that first approach, the club was going down.

Rock bottom of the league, mutiny in the stands and players who had given up. All that was required was to stay in the league.

Six players came in to save the day, yet it was the steel and drive injected into the ones already here that was more impressive to me.

The style of football wasn't brilliant, but it did not need to be. Needs must at times like that and although there were a few batterings contained within that second half of the season, Wolves' form since he took over was 8th

best in the league.

And then comes the summer of 2003 and the chaos returns. Murmurs of discontent started leaking out from within the camp that the goalposts had been moved and there would be yet again no money to spend.

This would not be resolved until Lopetegui left on the eve of the season. A year on and it would seem that he was in fact telling the truth all along, after current manager Gary O’Neil has suffered the same fate.

The three pre-season games before Lopetegui left though were interesting. Wolves had looked more expansive than before, with faster passing and more movement.

Wolves played Man Utd away in the first game of the season where O’Neil received all the praise for this brave new way of playing. In truth, he had been there for four days.

I believe that last season would have been entertaining with Lopetegui in charge, but that is not a thought shared with all Wolves fans who see him as a stroppy arrogant figure. Maybe he is both, but he gets results.

Max Kilman

‘Max is good in the air, strong in tackles, and very calm on the ball’

George Lakin from Always Wolves gives us the lowdown on Kilman and Lopetegui

This summer saw us lose our captain for the second season in succession.

Wolves fans knew this moment was coming, but Kilman’s journey from non-league Maidenhead to a Premier League mainstay is still something to appreciate.

When Kilman first arrived at Wolves in 2018, there wasn’t much fanfare. He was signed from Maidenhead United for just £40,000, and many of us thought he was one for the under-23s or perhaps a future profit-maker for the club.

But things moved quickly, and after making his Premier League

debut in 2019, he gradually became a core part of our defence.

Injuries to others gave him his chance, and he took it, proving himself to be a reliable option under several managers.

Kilman’s strengths were clear during his time at Wolves. He’s a defender who’s good in the air, strong in challenges, and incredibly calm on the ball.

His futsal background set him apart as a defender whose close control was akin to that of a tricky winger at times.

In full flow, he could easily break through the lines with the ball

seemingly glued to his feet.

Beyond his occasional eye-catching, mazy forward runs, he was a solid defender.

Last season, he ranked second in the Premier League for headed clearances (131) and blocks (24), and was fourth for aerial duels won with a 74% success rate.

He’s got the ability to read the game well, and his physical presence makes him a reliable figure in both boxes.

What stood out most during his time at Wolves was his unassuming style of leadership.

When Ruben Neves left, many

fans wondered if Kilman had the personality to wear the captain’s armband, with some preferring the more vocal Craig Dawson.

But Julen Lopetegui clearly saw leadership qualities in Kilman, handing him the captaincy before his own exit.

Kilman led by example rather than words, and though he wasn’t the warrior-like figure Neves was, he rarely let us down.

That said, Kilman’s calm nature sometimes bordered on being too casual. There were moments when he got caught on his heels, especially late in games.

The late winners from Kobbie Mainoo and Haji Wright last season spring to mind, Kilman could sometimes be a step behind, and those lapses cost us points.

These moments weren’t frequent, but they did prevent him from becoming a true cult figure at Wolves.

While he didn’t carry the same emotional connection as someone like Neves, Kilman was a dependable presence in our backline.

That said, there wasn’t the same outpouring from the fans at his departure as there was for Ruben, he wasn’t the heart and soul of the team, but he was solid and consistent.

Kilman’s best moments weren’t necessarily stand-out highlights but rather his consistency over time.

He played under five different managers during his Wolves career, and each one trusted him to do a job.

Whether it was under Nuno, Bruno Lage, Lopetegui, or Gary O’Neil, Kilman became the reliable

defender we could count on.

He may not have had the moments of magic that fans remember forever, but his presence helped steady the ship in difficult seasons.

Kilman’s move to West Ham didn’t come as a huge surprise. Lopetegui’s admiration for him was clear when he handed him the captaincy, and now at West Ham, it seems Kilman is expected to be his man at the back.

While some Hammers fans might have initially felt they’d overpaid, homegrown English players always carry a premium.

Kilman may not be the most exciting signing, but he brings a level of stability and reliability to the West Ham defence.

For Wolves fans, his departure wasn’t as painful as losing our previous captain, Ruben Neves, but it did leave a gap in our defence, especially with ex-Hammer Craig Dawson continuing to struggle with injuries.

Now, with the transfer window long since shut and no real defensive reinforcements brought in, Kilman’s exit feels even more significant and perhaps hurts a little more than it did initially.

With the club getting a solid fee for him, most fans thought Wolves would surely reinvest that money in a new centre-half.

This never materialised, and much now depends on the unproven Yerson Mosquera. Promising as he may be, he’s certainly no Max Kilman.

Kilman ultimately left Wolves with our best wishes. He wasn’t the most emotional or command-

ing figure, but he was a steady hand during some turbulent times.

For West Ham, Kilman has already been a calm, composed presence in the backline, and it wouldn’t be at all surprising if he eventually takes on a leadership role there as well.

As for another former Wolves man now at London Stadium Julen Lopetegui’s time at Wolves was short but impactful.

A manager who oozes charisma and confidence, he is the epitome of a man with a plan.

He came in during a difficult period and helped steady the ship, guiding us away from relegation.

His tactical acumen was clear, and his decision to make Kilman captain showed his ability to spot leadership qualities that others might miss.

Now that he’s at West Ham, it’ll be interesting to see how he adapts. He’s a tactician who can bring a sense of organisation to a team, and his faith in players like Kilman shows that he values calmness and consistency in key positions.

While success at West Ham is never guaranteed, Lopetegui has the tools to make an impact.

He is undoubtedly a manager who demands the board’s backing in terms of signings. This is a clear sign of his unrelenting ambition and his desire to build a team in his image.

Ultimately, this is something Wolves couldn’t give him, hence his untimely departure, but at West Ham, he has clearly been backed this summer, and an interesting season awaits.

What will Summerville offer?

‘He’s a small fish in a big pond but will play with a new freedom’

Marching on Together’s Adam

Ternent explains why our Dutchman could start flying for West Ham

It’s fair to say Victor Orta had a mixed success rate as Director of Football at Leeds United.

At his very best, his signings went on to make £55 million moves to Barcelona. At their very worst they end up costing us £40 million for three appearances.

But between the extremes of Raphinha and Jean-Kevin Augustin were his pet projects - undiscovered Under 21 players from across Europe.

While Ian Poveda, Mateusz Bogusz and Aapo Halme may not have set the word alight, Crysencio Summerville was certainly one of his shining stars.

Leeds snapped up Summerville for £1.3 million from Feyenoord in the summer of 2020, part of a big recruitment drive of young players following promotion back to the Premier League.

Despite his experience of Eredivisie football on loan at Den Haag, he linked up with the Under 21 side where his pace and eye for goal stood out. His performances earned him a regular place on the bench for the 2021-2022 season. It was the 2022-2023 that really saw Summerville step up though. With Raphinha departing to La Liga, Summerville demanded the Number 10 shirt.

A cocky move for a 20-year-old with one first team start under his belt, but then a lack of self-confidence has never been an issue for Crysencio Summerville.

The young Dutchman made 15 starts and 31 appearances that season but it was really the arrival of Wilfried Gnonto that really saw him come alive.

In what was a pretty dire season for Leeds, the budding partnership between Summerville and Gnonto was one of the only bright spots.

The two diminutive wingers feared no one, taking on all comers no matter their stature or standing.

The pair bagged four goals each, setting each other up and celebrating together. The joy on their faces was a brief glimpse of sunshine in a dire, dire season for Leeds United.

“

His self-confidence at times appeared to be more of a hindrance than an asset...

There had been questions around Summerville’s attitude, Jesse Marsch sat in front of the media claiming Summerville had stayed in England for his birthday and had definitely not travelled home to the Netherlands. Photos of him partying in Rotterdam suggested otherwise.

Gnonto had been a calming influence on Summerville according to Marsch, the Italian a year younger than Summerville but with a more professional outlook had helped convince him to get his head down.

However, the roles were reversed last summer. With relegation came a stampede to the exit door with players like Jack Harrison, Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson like rats departing a sinking ship.

Gnonto himself pushed for a move and went on strike. But there was no agitation for a move from Summerville or his agent.

Whilst he had done enough to put himself in the shop window, he backed himself to show what he could do with a full season under his belt, to prove himself to be the best player in the Championship, and he certainly did that.

With the big-name departures, the pressure was definitely on Summerville and rise to it he did.

Championship Player of the Season, Leeds United Players’ Player of the Season, with 21 goals and 10 assists, the accolades and numbers speak for themselves.

There was no doubting his right to wear that Number 10 shirt as he had potentially one of the best seasons by any player in the history of the Championship. But does that tell the whole story? Perhaps not.

There were criticisms of Summerville, despite his impressive numbers. His self-confidence at times appeared to be more of a hindrance than an asset, spurning the chance to cross, taking it on himself and losing the ball or skying it over the bar.

But then if I was Crysencio Summerville and looked up to see Patrick Bamford as my only option

in the box, I’d probably take it on myself as well.

It is fair to say he is in a better squad with better players now, he just needs to make the right decision when those opportunities come.

The other criticism was that he was ‘found out’ towards the latter stages of the season, but it’s difficult to say who was found out.

Was it Summerville or was it

Daniel Farke? Farke’s tactics heavily rely on the individual, a player creating something out of nowhere and Summerville certainly delivered plenty of those moments last season.

But he became a marked man with teams doubling up on him. Stop Summerville and you stopped Leeds to a large extent.

Despite his price tag, Summerville won’t be the main man this season, he’s a little fish in a big pond now.

That should give him the freedom to play again, and he will undoubtedly create chances in the Premier League, he’s done it before.

Don’t expect 20 goals a season from him, he won’t get away with his trademark cut in from the left and smash the ball into the top corner. Not with the quicker defenders and better goalkeepers of the Premier League.

But will he be fun to watch? Will he put defenders on their arse? Will he create chances for West Ham this season? I have no doubt.

He’s a special little player, look after him, we are going to miss him.

When Manchester United sealed the £50m signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka in July 2019, few United supporters would have been anything but positive.

The club was bringing in an exciting young full back - just named Palace’s Player of the Year - to fill a problem position in the lineup, which had seen two aging wingers fill the role in recent years.

However, what became apparent over the subsequent seasons was that Aaron was the victim of a familiar fate at Old Trafford - a good player being brought into the wrong situation.

Wan-Bissaka’s arrival was part of a supposed ‘new dawn’ at United. Off the back of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s remarkable interim spell in 18/19, the club aimed to build the team around a core of British players.

Harry Maguire and Dan James were also brought in, while Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard - remember him? - and Mason Greenwood provided a prolific British core in attack.

From the off, Wan-Bissaka’s strengths were apparent. His clever positioning and no nonsense tackling made him a fan favourite early on.

The fee may have been eye watering, but the performances kept coming. None more memorable than December 2019’s MOTM performance in a 2-1 away win at Manchester City.

As the wheels came off Solskjaer’s time in charge, Wan Bissaka could at least console himself in being one of the few consistent

‘Aaron will be a good fit for West Ham with his no nonsense tackling’

Man United fan Kelvin Farrell reflects on Wan-Bissaka’s life at Old Trafford and what he can do at West Ham

performers in the XI.

You knew what you were getting with Aaron and he was good at it, but it was the arrival of another interim that set his time at Old Trafford on a downward trajectory.

Ralf Ragnick took charge at the club following Solskjaer’s dismissal in November 2021 and he brought with him new ideas on how the team should play.

Full backs were no longer just there to defend, but would now be expected to play a vital role in attacking phases.

What became apparent early on with Ragnick - and subsequently with Erik Ten Hag - is Aaron couldn't offer the level of attacking threat required to be effective in such systems.

While not as naturally gifted a defender, Portugal’s Diogo Dalot was proving a more well rounded option at full back for a team looking to utilise attacking full backs.

For comparison, to date, Dalot has provided a 36% increase in goal contributions over Wan-Bissaka across their spells at United.

It is a vital part of modern football which unfortunately Aaron seemed unable to adapt his game to, despite best efforts.

His defending would often become affected as he chased back frantically from sprints up the field.

This led to him being uncharacteristically out of position a lot in his latter spell at the club.

He may not be suited to Manchester United right now - I can hear the cries of ‘who is?!’ - but Aaron Wan-Bissaka is too good a defender to sit on the bench.

Few supporters will have any ill-feelings towards him because he was never the type of player you could actively dislike. Never spoke out or caused issues. He just played football.

I often turned to my wife last season to point out how Wan-Bissaka would be a great fit for West Ham. Despite the change in manager since then I still believe the Hammers have landed themselves a brilliant signing at a very reasonable price. I wish him only the best.

David Bowden @Bowdenwhu

‘Lifting a trophy as captain will cement Bowen’s place in history’

We’ll always remember Jarrod’s match-winning goal in Prague but what else will he achieve with us?

It was a summer of change with the David Moyes era ending, which has seen us bring a new manager, a new coaching team, several new faces, and a new captain in Jarrod Bowen.

Julen Lopetegui quickly identified that current leader Kurt Zouma had knees made of glass as the Frenchmen had to heavily iced his knees following just 45 minutes of action against nonleague Dagenham.

That left the Spaniard with his first major decision as manager: to

stick with Zouma or twist and get a new right-hand man.

Further defensive struggles during the early stages of pre-season meant the former Seville manager decided he needed to rebrand his defensive unit, and that left Zouma out in the cold and eventually looking for a new club.

Several options were presented to Lopetegui. The former Wolves manager had already signed his former skipper, Max Kilman, so it seemed like he would be the obvious choice.

But Prague hero Bowen was the obvious fans' choice. The new Hammers poster boy following Declan Rice's departure is adored by the Claret and Blue army, and it would be a quick win for the new manager, who was initially greeted with scepticism by the Irons faithful.

So when news began to break that the England man was to be appointed as the new skipper, it was greeted with delight, the first tick of approval for Lopetegui.

Bowen's desire to become cap-

tain surprised me when I first read the article following the signing of his new long-term contract at the club last season.

He doesn't come across as particularly vocal on the pitch; he is more of a quiet but respected individual. The more I thought about it, the more I loved the idea.

He has an evident affection with the club, thanks in part to his future father-in-law Danny Dyer and the fact that he seemed to immediately fall in love with the club when he joined from Hull.

The fans gravitated to him quickly and adopted him as one of our own early on because he seemed to understand what it meant to be ‘West Ham’.

He is a grafter. He runs all day and plays with that burning desire to win, and it helps that he has improved exponentially during his years in E20.

Those attributes made me realise he is the perfect captaincy candidate. While he may be a quiet leader, he will lead from the front and set the tone, and his teammates will follow his example.

He reminds me in many ways of a combination of Declan Rice and

Mark Noble, arguably two of the best captains in recent memory.

Rice was the poster boy of the club in the same way Bowen is now. Noble, meanwhile, was the stalwart of the club, the leader, the one-club man.

Bowen isn't a one-club man, but you feel he wants to retire and become a legend at West Ham United.

I’m sure Bowen has looked at those two and will want to utilise the attributes he will have learned under their stewardship.

Of course, Bowen still has lots to learn, and I am sure Noble will offer help and assistance whenever possible.

So, whilst the short term may present him with some challenges, you suspect his leadership style will develop with that guidance and experience.

With six years left on his deal at the London Stadium, his appointment as captain will offer vital stability to the club.

Captaincy is an interesting role; you feel it has changed over the years. You look around the league now; many different personalities lead teams.

I often thought that Noble was the outlier. It was usually the team's best player who would be

captain.

In my head, Noble was never the best player at West Ham, but his leadership and personality would mean he was always the best candidate to lead the boys out week in and week out.

It was also typically defenders who would wear the armband as you could always see what was ahead of you.

Still, looking around the league now, some of the best captains are moving forward, such as Harry Kane with England, Martin Odegaard at Arsenal, and John McGinn at Villa.

It fascinates me how the role is developing, and hopefully, Jarrod Bowen is the next name on the list of ‘great captains’.

The armband has clearly inspired Bowen as well in the early goings of the season.

The forward has been on fire early on, leading from the front with two goals in league and cup and an assist in the defeat against Manchester City.

While Bowen hopes to go down in history as a West Ham United legend, and is already halfway there with his goal in Prague, lifting a trophy or two as captain will further cement his place in Hammers' folklore.

Holly Worthington @hollseey

When it became clear that Zouma was unlikely to spend much time on the pitch this season, questions started to be asked of who would be the best West Ham captain?

Before he even left the club, it went without saying that it was time for somebody else to take on the captaincy, and for me, Bowen was the natural fit.

I believe there are a few factors that make somebody a successful captain; commitment, leading by example, giving 100%, understanding the club and the ability to command respect from teammates.

Looking at each of these, I believe Bowen ticks more boxes than anybody else in our team. He’s committed his future to West Ham long-term, works hard, never gives up trying in games, speaks passionately about the club and is clearly respected by the players.

When we look at recent captains, Noble obviously stands out and I don’t think we’ll ever find another player that meets his standards.

Something that set him aside from any other captain in the Premier League is that he lived for the club.

It’s so rare that you see a player stay faithful to a club for such long periods of time, but Bowen now appears to be the closest we have to this in terms of being loyal.

Something Noble really built into the team was the mentality of working together, from the way he communicated, to getting players to sweep the changing room after

‘There

were a few options to follow Rice and Zouma as captain’

The likes of Alvarez, Kilman and Soucek all have legitimate shouts of being given the armband by our new manager

games.

Bowen had the privilege of playing under Noble, which I believe can see him continue to keep this mentality alive.

While Rice was the best fit of captain following Noble’s departure, there were traits that I am glad to not see in Bowen.

Rice had a tendency to become frustrated and flap arms in the air when things didn’t go our way, which I don’t think motivates players in the right way.

Bowen, on the other hand, continues to work hard, support team mates and encourage them to keep going, which I think will benefit our performances more.

But Bowen wasn’t the only suitable option, there were others in contention for the role.

As the Mexico team Captain, Alvarez was one option. Rumours started when he was called ‘captain’ in a video for the shirt launch, however this turned out to be meaningless.

His communication and central position on the pitch would have worked well with him as captain.

Lopetegui spoke about how he loves Alvarez’s passion, but

he needs to understand when to show less passion and stay focused on the game, suggesting that his hot-headed nature may have been a concern.

Soucek was another player in the running, having captained us a few times before and being captain of Czech Republic.

In my opinion, while he knows the club well, there is a question mark over how much game time he should be getting makes him a less suitable choice.

I wouldn’t want us to be chopping and changing captains, so it’s important that we choose somebody likely to play every game in the years to come.

And then there’s Kilman, who came over to us from being Wolves captain. Lopetegui knows how he leads a team, but being new to West Ham probably made him a less favourable option, for now, at least.

Whether Bowen remains captain long-term will be interesting to see. Lopetegui spoke positively about Kilman’s leadership qualities, so now is Bowen’s time to prove himself as a leader and show that he has what it takes.

Geoff Hillyer

The London derby between West Ham and Chelsea this month promises to be one of the most unpredictable matches in recent memory.

Why? Because both teams have been wildly inconsistent, and it's impossible to predict which version of either side will show up.

So far this season, both West Ham and Chelsea have shared similar fortunes: we’ve both been beaten by Manchester City, and have also faced Crystal Palace, albeit with different results, we won, Chelsea drew.

Chelsea’s season has taken a surreal turn, highlighted by

‘Chelsea

might finish higher then us but I wouldn’t trade places’

Our derby will be more than just a clash of clubs; It’s a meeting of two very different philosophies

their 6-2 win at Wolves, followed by a stumble in Europe against Servette which nearly cost them a Europa Conference place.

I really do think that Chelsea Football Club is a bit of a circus, and this is demonstrated no better than in their transfer activity. I know I’m biased and everything and I’m bound to write that in a

West Ham publication, but seriously, look at it.

According to transfermarkt. co.uk, they’ve spent over £200m on signings: Wolves’ Pedro Neto was the most expensive at £50m, but he’s had an inauspicious start, being taken off in the 1-1 draw against Palace.

Fellow Portuguese Joao Felix

was another big-money signing in what might charitably be described as a ‘strange one’.

He left Chelsea after an underwhelming six-month spell in 2023, went to Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, where he was also underwhelming, and they’ve now resigned him for way more than you might consider his market value to be (roughly £44m). Please explain this logic to me?

They’ve also dished out money on Leicester’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Filip Jergensen from Villareal, Mike Penders from Genk and a bunch of others… the list goes on.

Is there a single country that Chelsea haven’t signed a player from this season? I fully expect to read about the latest high-profile signing from Lesotho in the mid-season transfer window.

These transfers, however, don’t tell the full story – as whilst that £200m accounts for nine incomings, there are 13 additional players that have come to the club either on loan, or back to the club as their loan has ended.

Ah yes, loans. It's fair to say Chelsea have made some, er, creative use of the loans system.

With owner Todd Boehly having forked out over £1.3 billion (yes, that’s billion) in his time at the club, the vast number of loans in, some with obligation to buy, are a clever way of pushing the cost of these deals into the next window. I fully expect to see more of this, but honestly, the list of deals in and out is virtually off the page. And you thought we’d done a bit of business over the summer.

The Chelsea ‘philosophy’, if you can call it that, appears to be ‘if you get enough players in your squad, and ensure you’re creative with the system, success will come’.

Of course, we all know that to

“

Chelsea Football Club represents everything that is wrong with football today.

be absolute nonsense – the word ‘disjointed’ has never had to do so much heavy lifting in relation to a football squad before. But that’s what you get when you’ve an owner with billions in the bank who wants to use a football club as his latest shiny toy, and this all points to a deeper problem with Chelsea – one around its identity.

Chelsea have an expensively-assembled squad, and lots of talent, but are they a team or a club? Or are they just some kind of trading company that you might as well see advertised when you click on a YouTube video, showing off the latest crazy deal?

They will probably do quite well this season. Short term, I expect results to be mixed, long term they’ll probably gel a bit and likely end up in the top six. They’ll probably finish above us, but to be honest I really don’t care.

I’d much rather have a bit less

success and be a West Ham fan. We may argue about whether the move to the Olympic Stadium was right, we may moan about our board.

But I just feel that as a club, we still have a soul. Sometimes hard to spot, but it’s there.

When I look at Chelsea and think about us, I see the direction that we very definitely don’t want to go.

Chelsea Football Club is a play thing that is used by wealthy people. I think that it represents everything that is wrong with football today.

The spending, the way they treat their people - Mauricio Pochettino left ‘by mutual consent’ and hardly looked upset with this development - and the way the club appears to be run is obscene.

It has the look of a club that is designed to be a profit-making entity, first and foremost, to the exclusion of everything else. That is not what football should be about.

In the end, our derby will be more than just a clash of clubs; I think that it’s a meeting of two philosophies.

One club is chasing success with an expensive but disjointed squad, while the other is at least trying to hold onto its roots, for better or worse.

And while Chelsea may finish higher in the league, I wouldn’t trade our places for anything.

Being a West Ham fan is about more than just results, it’s about pride in who we are. I hope we win.

Meirion

Williams

@meirionw

‘Max and Guido are the cream of the crop from our summer spend’

But Wan Bissaka, Summerville and Soler could sparkle this season in our quest to qualify for Europe

In days gone by, if I was to write about West Ham’s transfer dealings, I would be able to write it on a postage stamp.

This off season though, I would have needed a full billboard and then some, that’s just how many new signings we have obtained.

It’s early days but it may be worth just looking at what we

have so far seen in these first few weeks of the season.

It has to be said that it has been a cautious start for the new boys in the claret and blue with only six of the mini bus load of new signings actually getting any game time in our first four games.

The pick of the crop has to be Max Kilman who has started

and completed all four games, followed by Guido Rodriquez who has started three.

He came on as a substitute in the other one and of those three starts, he was only substituted once with five minutes to go.

Add to that Aaron Wan Bissaka, who was really only available for three of those first four games,

and he’s started two of them.

It has to be said that these three new signings look likely to become regulars.

Of the remainder, Jean-Clair Todibo has been a bit-part player with two insignificant substitute appearances and a start against Bournemouth but then substituted.

The big German striker, Niclas Füllkrug has made one start, but was substituted, and has had three substitute appearances and therefore has yet to make an impact.

“ Kilman does look the real deal and seems to be a real no nonsense defender.

The final one of the half dozenCrysencio Summerville - has made just one start and was substituted along with two again insignificant substitution appearances.

What of the others? Well, Wes Foderingham and Luis Guilherme have made the bench with only, due to his late signing, Carlos Soler yet to feature at all.

I do expect Soler to feature, after all PSG did buy him from Valencia for €18M so he has to be pretty good.

At the moment though it seems that Rodriquez and Kilman are the cream of the crop.

Kilman, of course, is known to our new manager having played for Julen Lopetegui when he managed Wolves.

He does look the real deal and seems to be a real no nonsense defender, solid and someone I think we have not had since the early days of Winston Reid and more recently Craig Dawson.

Kilman was highly thought of by the Wanderers faithful. During his time in the Midlands, he was named club captain and made over one hundred Premier League appearances.

After signing a lucrative contract that should have kept him at the club until 2028, it was a bit of a surprise that we managed to get him to leave.

I guess an even better contract plus Wolves getting a transfer fee of around £40 million, four of which went to his former club Maidenhead United, may have had a hand in the decision.

What we do have is a 27 year old with vast experience and I know it’s early days but I feel he will be a starter for most of the season.

I also believe that in Guido Rodriquez we have a steal as I feel that the early signs of his partnership with Alvarez means that we will hopefully not miss Paqueta if he is found guilty of match fixing.

Rodriquez is an established international player. He was a slow burner at Real Betis but eventually came good making 139 La Liga appearances.

He’s not a real goal scorer but could be the holding midfielder we need since the transfer of Declan Rice to some minor North London

club of no significance. Rodriquez, having come as a free agent, could be the steal of the season.

Aaron Wan Bissaka could also be another great signing. He lost his place initially at Manchester United due to illness and injury and not due to a lack of form.

However it seems he was surplus to requirements and we were the team to gain his services.

At just 26, he could be a starter for years in our team and gives us a defender that will scare the living daylights when he bombs up the wing. His early performances look promising and I feel again he could be a real steal.

One other player that I liked when I saw him play was Summerville. I thought he looked great against Bournemouth and was disappointed when he was substituted in the second half of that game.

I think he can have a real impact at our club. I just hope he gets a chance.

As for the others, only time will tell and I really hope our big German striker doesn’t get the West Ham curse that seems to affect our forwards since the takeover by Sullivan.

One other I would like to give a special mention to is Carlos Soler. At the time of writing, he has yet to make an appearance having signed on transfer deadline day, or close to that.

This is a player who once had a €150 million release clause to his name and seems to be the real deal. It will be interesting to see how he performs in the next few months.

Starting defence

Emily Pulham @makingthemarrow

West Ham are not what you'd call a defensive fortress in this day and age.

In the 2023-24 season, we conceded 74 goals. This was the most we'd ever conceded in the Premier League, beating our previous record of 70 in the 201011 season.

For context, in the 2010-11 season, we were relegated - finishing bottom of the table - with just 33 points.

It's unacceptable for a team aiming for top of the table stability and competing in Europe to be letting in that many goals.

The only three teams who let in more goals than West Ham last year were the relegated ones, messers Luton Town, Burnley and Sheffield United - and a change at the back has been sincerely needed to avoid a repeat poor performance this season.

Initial impressions would suggest that new manager Julien Lopetengui agrees as our defense has been thoroughly overhauled during the offseason.

Out went our loyal long-standing Italian defender and sometimes captain, Angelo Ogbonna, as well as our always captain Kurt Zouma.

It's a brave thing to sell a club captain - particularly when it's not a case of struggling to keep him away from a bigger club.

We’ve also loaned out wantaway defender Nayef Aguerd, who penned such a sincere and final goodbye letter to the Hammers

‘Kilman,

Emerson and Wan-Bissaka should always be starting’

But who should our second centre back be, Dinos or Todibo, and will we concede fewer goals this season?

that you'd be forgiven for wondering if he knew it was only a loan. With new signings coming in, it seems like it's an opportunity for a fresh - and dare we say, potentially successful - start.

We’ve seen almost everyone available to us in defence over our first four games, across the league and league cup, and there are some early swings and roundabouts in our collective defensive options - options who have let in five goals over said four games.

We’re familiar with Mavropanos’ game, which means every pass back to the keeper is a ‘heart-inmouth’ moment.

As much as he offers in defensive prowess, he has the potential for a minimum of one fatal error per game within him.

His failure to deliver on and then recover from a driving run forward against Manchester City gifted super-human Erling Haaland with a third goal at the weekend.

A new face to add to the centre-back options - and compete with Mavropanos for his place in the starting line up - is French international Jean-Clair Todibo.

He's something of a big deal at 6'3, having played for Barcelona at the age of 19, and going on to play for Nice, who have kindly loaned him to us for the season.

He's got lots of senior European experience, but hasn't had a huge amount of time on the pitch yet in east London.

When he has been on the pitch, he's certainly a towering and strong presence, but he has

seemed a little nervous, and may need some time to settle into life in the Premier League.

It’s Maximilian Kilman who provides perhaps the brightest spark in our defensive options.

Since arriving from Wolves in a £40 million transfer, he’s slotted immediately into our back four, starting every game.

Authoritative, cool, calm and incredibly capable, this is a signing that has unquestionably strengthened us.

He's been completely comfortable driving the heart of our defence, and has even managed an assist in his second league game.

Another signing which has unquestionably strengthened the squad is our new spidery friend.

When it comes to skill, flair and punching-the-air excitement, it is Aaron Wan Bissaka’s name that comes to mind.

He has been a delight to watch so far for West Ham, and it’s been a genuine point of wonder that Manchester United, a team who’s defensive record so far is questionable at best, were willing to part with him for just £15 million.

Where Aaron’s game could develop is in his skill in the final third, but the shifts we’ve seen so far have been incredibly convincing.

He makes it look easy to pull off world class stops and tackles and is genuinely fun to watch.

Another player who’s easy to watch is Emerson Palmieri. The Brazilian is one of the elite few players to have a European cup winners medal for all three levels of competition - Champions League, Europa League, and Con-

ference League - and you can see why he’s so heavily decorated.

He’s a skilful player who defends by instinct and, of all our defensive players, offers the most going forward.

His attacking game is our best defence, and his pace allows for him to easily overlap on the wing to place crosses and even straight shots into the box - and into the net.

We also have the skill set of Vladimir Coufal still available to us. The hard-working and focused defender isn't every fan's cup of tea.

His pace isn't always what it needs to be, and for how far forward he gets, it often leaves us exposed at the back for the counter.

He's played more minutes than fans may have expected so far this season as the new manager takes his time integrating the new players.

Given all the options available to us, do we actually have an ideal back four to keep the goals out in east London?

After just four games, the jury is still out - and the reality of having just three experienced senior centre-backs does rear its ugly, goal-conceding head, as demonstrated five times already this season.

There's three definite names on the team-sheet in West Ham's back line, and it's three of the four who started against Manchester City.

Kilman is an outstanding signing and is already our most reliable and solid defender.

He's captain material and doing

a job of marshalling the troops at the back. With more time settling into the team, he will grow even more in strength.

Emerson takes the left-back position easily - this writer had forgotten that Aaron Cresswell was still part of the squad until just now, so there isn’t really competition there.

Emerson brings an incredible amount of skill to the team and is influential in converting defensive prowess into attacking opportunities.

The third automatic name on the sheet is Wan-Bissaka. What a signing he's been so far; what a signing he'll be in the future.

Where the future of our back four looks less certain is as to who takes that remaining centre back spot, and we've only got two names to choose from.

We haven't seen enough of Todibo yet to see how he's going to slot into the team and, more importantly, influence the team.

Mavropanos is a good player, but we know he loves a mistake. In this case, it might be better the devil you know, for now.

With so much change in the backline, it does help to have someone familiar with how the rest of the team play - and hopefully Mavropanos's experience with Areola and the rest of the team will start to shore us up at the back.

As our mixed start to the season shows, it can’t come quickly enough. This group of players has a lot of potential - and here’s to conceding fewer goals this season.

‘We’ve

lost the most opening day games of any Premier League club’

After our defeat against Villa, @westhamrambles looks for answers as to why we start so badly

Every season it is the same, a building excitement, and a sense of anticipation.

Fans of every club are the same - be it hoping for a title, Europe, promotion, a decent cup run, avoiding relegation – whatever the target is.

Before the season commences, everything is on the table, no matter how many years you have supported a club, you dream of a good season.

This season, for us Hammers, the anticipation was raised a notch or two, with a new manager and a swathe of new signings.

We knew Aston Villa would be a tricky game – they have an impressive squad, and in Emery, a talented manager.

It took just four minutes for our dreams to fade and die, as previous transfer target Andre Onana bundled the ball home. Here we go again.

We got back into it with a Paqueta penalty, but then Duran, a player we had been trying to sign all summer, came off the bench to score the winner.

It’s coincidence, but these things all seem so very West Ham when they happen – ex players, bogey players, players we’ve tried to sign, players on a goal drought – enter West Ham and they will score.

My memory isn’t the best, but I

seem to remember more opening day defeats than victories.

After losing to Villa, it sparked a few memories about opening games, and I had a dig into how we have fared on those opening weekends.

Including the Aston Villa defeat, we have lost our opening Premier League fixture 16 times, more than any other team.

“

The more you look at the opening day results, the more depressing they are.

‘Opening day losers, you’ll never sing that’. What is it about that early season game, which we struggle so much with?

Are we stitched up with high-quality opposition, not fit enough, what is it?

Looking at the previous four seasons, we have seen a draw away at Bournemouth, a defeat at home to Man City, a win at Newcastle and a home defeat by the Geordies back in 2020.

One win in five, not the best. You’d expect the Man City defeat, and possibly Villa, but we seem to struggle no matter who the opposition.

Perhaps it’s the West Ham way to dampen expectations as soon as possible.

The first games of the season

can stick in your mind, often for the wrong reasons.

I remember travelling to Stamford Bridge in the 200/01 season, for what turned into a goalfest, with some superb goals.

Stellar names Hasselbiank, Di Canio and Zola all scored that day, and we ended up on the wrong end of a 4-2 defeat.

There were flashes of hope at 3-2, but Chelsea made it safe with a second Stanic goal. Even back then I can recall thinking ‘we never win the opening game.’

Newcastle crops up when looking at the opening games, and our games against them often produce plenty of goals and a fair whack of controversy.

In 20/21 bogeyman Callum Wilson scored his eighth goal in nine league appearances against us, with Jeff Hendrick getting the other.

This was a Newcastle team including Andy Carroll and Jonjo Shelvey – managed by none other than Steve Bruce.

The season after the fixtures algorithm gave us Newcastle again, and this time the result was far more pleasing, a 2-4 away win, in front of the Sky cameras.

It looked like we were heading to another Callum Wilson-inspired defeat, and we went into the

break 1-2 down, but no, we beat the opening day jinx with goals from Soucek, Benrahma and Antonio.

Going further back in the annals of time, another opening day defeat against the Barcodes comes to mind in the 2002/3 season.

It was a Monday night, and on Sky. Back then live Monday night football was still relatively novel, and not everyone had Sky.

Hopes were high, and for an hour it remained nil-nil, and then Newcastle blazed in four goals – Lu Lua - twice - Shearer and Solano with the goals.

Our team that night included David James, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Trevor Sinclair and Jermain Defoe.

That horrible defeat was a red flag to what would happen that season, with a catastrophic relegation.

In recent years we have also been tonked by both Manchester clubs and Liverpool.

We conceded five at home against City in August 2019, four away at Liverpool in August 2018 and at Old Trafford in August 2017, we conceded four.

The more you look at the opening day results, the more depressing they are.

We do seem to play the so-called big six quite often on the first day of the season, but we also seem to play teams, like Newcastle and Aston Villa who are in a ‘good patch’.

Oh well, at least the opening game is gone, and we can wait another eleven months until we lose the next one.

Bradley Holland @Nolahammers

In a little Irish bar in New Orleans, adorned with Arsenal flags on the interior, but open to supporters of all clubs, a pack of Spurs fans sit strewn about some tables singing chants about Gareth Bale.

The scoreline reads 3-0 in the 80th minute with West Ham headed for a major loss. They're flying high as they're in the lead, as we slump at our tables.

This has been a brutal pummeling and as usual, the small contingent of West Ham fans who made it out are drowning in beer and the cheers of other teams as we order more rounds to make it through at a game time of 8am in

‘We get just as pumped up for the Arsenal and Spurs games as you do’

When it comes to London derbies, do West Ham fans across the Pond hate Spurs and Milwall as much as the Brits?

the morning.

It's a London derby day at the only bar in the city that has consistent football games on so that every supporter from the whole of the city who wants to go out for a drink, or doesn't have a specific paid streaming service, is out to support their club on one of the 12 screens in the small but

beloved pub.

It's a constant away day for the Hammers as the top six clubs all have more supporters at the tables.

And as West Ham usually does poorly against the top six sides, it's always a brutal lashing in front of others.

Even though a lot of those fans

are plastic, following Man United or Arsenal from their winning days in the 90s and early 00s, they still can claim victory over us.

But on this day in the 81st minute, Balbuena gets a header and we get to cheer. It stings for the Spurs fans but they're still laughing it off as the game is dying and they're ahead by two.

In only three minutes a cross from Yarmolenko yields a Spurs' own goal and we're now at 2-3; the gutsier fans amongst us run up to the Spuds cheering and give them a double dose of the middle fingers and crossed irons - they are uncomfortable.

Suddenly our two picnic tables are starting to sing "Blowing Bubbles" loudly and buying a round of shots.

At 90+4 Lanzini hits a long range stunner that was heard across the Pond, and we end the game tied in the glorious uproar of a 3-3 draw. A draw that feels like a win for all of us.

We celebrate and cheer on the small victory that we can on a derby day which are so few.

You see, being a West Ham fan abroad usually signals two things. Firstly, we're real fans, and we're passionate.

We're in the minority, we're not usually physically or ancestrally connected so we hold on through passion and secondly, West Ham culture is our culture.

Because we're the minority who usually loses, we take on the culture of the group that you support in order to hang on.

For my British friends, this means you have fans in different

parts of the world supporting a team through the misery you suffer, with nothing but a love for the club to keep them through.

It also means we inherit a ready-made hatred for Tottenham, and Milwall even though they've never been in the Premier League proper.

I was so interested to see our "classic rival" when I visited England, that I went to a West Brom game at the Hawthorns just to boo Millwall in an EFL match.

And this delighted me in not only offering me a loss, but also getting in a rumble outside the grounds with Baggies in true Millwall fashion.

This September West Ham have three London derbies against Fulham, Chelsea and Brentford. When it comes to derbies, I know a lot of my West Ham friends in America don't get heated for matches against Fulham, Brentford, Watford or AFC Wimbledon.

There isn't that much fanfare for these matches, maybe because you folks across the Pond don't transmit a transatlantic deep hatred for these clubs.

Chelsea are unlikable in their own right so there is a natural dislike making the derby a higher level of tension, but it's really only Arsenal and Crystal Palace that I have more of a desire to win at because they are Londoners after Spurs.

In New Orleans and at our pub Finn's, it's Arsenal who has the biggest support equalled by Liverpool and then Man United.

Surprisingly Man City doesn't

have that much support but I think that's because the majority of folks are over 21 legal drinking age so don't attach to their recent winning ways.

Chelsea and Spurs are equal after that, so that really there is some rivalry between us and Arsenal when it comes to the matches although their fans are not as obnoxious as Spurs.

Comparatively to our major sports in the States there are definite rivalries - local derbies are intense in hometown highschool American football, basketball and baseball.

On the larger stage there are some states with multiple teams that are more competitive but because we're spread so far apart at the professional level, it's more about groups that are continually competing for the title.

In soccer, as a Philadelphia Union supporter, we hate the New York Red Bulls who are an hour away in New Jersey or NYCFC - the club owned by Man City owners that Frank Lampard Jr played for, and they're about 2.5 hours away.

But as a Hammer, I know that the American West Ham fanbase will continue to get more excited for derbies, and channel the energy, passion, and embarrassment that our British brethren do over land and sea.

We will love what you love and hate what you hate within reason, and we will also never understand why you pronounce ‘derby’ as ‘dahr-bee’ with an ‘a’ instead of ‘derr-bee’ with the ‘e’ it is spelt with.

Being able to recall the chillout vibes of Bran Van 3000’s ‘Drinking in LA’ distinguishes me as more than double the legal drinking age.

So apologies for sounding like an old curmudgeon, but ‘Drinking at the LS’ definitely doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Football has a complex relationship with alcohol, whereas mine is more simple: I like a drink, but I don’t need one, especially at extortionate prices.

Having moved north in my early-30s, I can’t be sure if it was age or geography that turned me from lager to craft beer but either way, a menu of Amstel, Heineken, Birra Moretti and Strongbow holds

‘Amstel,

Heineken and Strongbow hold very little appeal to me’

Paul Brand takes a sober odyssey through English football’s relationship with alcohol

little appeal.

The parsimonious northerner in me also insists that I’m not paying them London prices of more than £5 a pint for what tastes like warm, fizzy piss.

The other thing that deters me from drinking inside the stadium is the toilets. Even before reaching

middle-age, I was a piss per pint sort of person, so if I finish one shortly before kick-off then it’s almost inevitable that my bladder will feel uncomfortably full within 45 minutes. And it can be uncomfortable enough watching West Ham.

Our team can also drive us

to drink, and I’d be a lot more relaxed with a pint in hand, sipping leisurely as I would when watching at home or in the pub.

It’s a sad fact of life that English cricket and rugby fans can be trusted to drink in their seats but football followers will forever be tarred as hooligans, seemingly incapable of imbibing any quantity of alcohol without turning violent. Then again, we don’t help ourselves.

The Europa Conference League Final was not exactly marred by plastic cups being thrown at Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi but his bloodied head was not a good look for the travelling support who got giddy with the idea of drinks receptacles as missiles, as if the prospect of becoming Champions of Europe weren’t head-spinning enough.

The continent’s generally more relaxed attitude towards alcohol has been enjoyed responsibly by most of those who’ve followed West Ham’s European adventures. And this summer’s World Cup in Germany showed it’s not only English fans that can’t keep hold of their plastic pint glasses.

On the other hand, the craze for drenching everyone in beer when a goal is scored does seem to be a peculiarly English phenomenon.

I’ll admit the scenes from fan zones and box parks look good on TV – and it’s probably that Insta appeal that has instigated it – but I’m buggered if I want to be part of those scenes.

The dramatic impact of a goal scored in football carries more weight than runs/wickets in cricket or tries in rugby so the emotive

impulse is understandable and a little spillage perfectly acceptable.

However, I would query why some have lost the decades-old ability, still on show in most pubs across the country, to celebrate and keep hold of a pint.

Allowing drinks of any description in the stands could quickly be spoilt by the hyperactive revellers who must be mixing their beer with the equally expensive Prime. More money than sense. I repeat: nearly £10 a pint. Also, VAR.

While I can give or take a drink before a match or at the stadium, preferring to settle in the pub afterwards to cogently dissect 90 minutes of action, for some the matchday experience is intertwined with alcohol from breakfast through to dinner.

During my university days I manned a bar at Coventry’s Highfield Road, which was then enjoying its last hurrah.

A few committed regulars would come direct from a full English and a couple of refreshers at the city-centre Wetherspoons to make the most of the hour or so allocation before kick-off – annoyingly, we stopped serving 10 minutes beforehand due to some regulation or other and we always used the same distinctive latecomer as our cue to pull down the shutters, much to his annoyance.

The hardcore drinkers probably worked harder than I did, putting away as much as they could during this time and still having change from a tenner such were the prices in those days.

Then they’d be back at 15.40 on the dot for the half-time reopen-

ing, evidently more concerned about their drinking action than the football action. There was a tiny wall-mounted TV in the corner but it was delayed and jittery, although I’m not sure they ever noticed.

Perhaps the most surreal alcohol-related experience I’ve had was as a neutral at St James’ Park. Firstly, accustomed to jostling for position at the Boleyn and dealing with thirsty crowds at Coventry, I’d never seen a more orderly queue, possibly aided by the fact that Newcastle Brown Ale was the only thing ordered if not the only thing served.

When we took to our seats at the end of an aisle, the rotund Geordie in front promptly passed out, sprawled across the walkway so that toilet-goers had to tentatively step around him.

Assured by his mates that he was alright, he proved it by rousing himself for a half-time drink before returning to his comatose position in time for the second half. In fairness to the fella, it was 2007 and Big Fat Sam had not long taken charge in the North East.

For me, it will always be football first, drink second. And it would be nice to be able to politicise this stance by stating that I won’t have another drink at the London Stadium until concessions for juniors and OAPs are returned.

Except the food and drink concessions are controlled by the LLDC, so whether the order’s Amstel, OJ or Bovril, it’ll do nothing to hit the board where it hurts. Like I said, it’s a complicated relationship.

Chris Wheal @whealie

The club should give fans who behave badly a second chance

Should badly behaved football fans be given a second chance?

The West Ham United Supporters’ Trust thinks they should.

One of our hopes now the club has established its Fan Advisory Board (FAB) is that some of these issues can be raised.

Our aim is rehabilitation of alleged ‘offenders’, often using a process where they sit and talk through the impact of their behav-

iour with people affected by it. It’s called restorative justice.

Football’s anti-prejudice campaign group Kick It Out has a big push on this, not just about racism, which is often the focus of much of its work.

It also looks at issues such as sectarianism and it has backed work at West Ham to counter anti-gay abuse.

The LGBT group for Hammers

fans is called Pride Of Irons (PoI). It has done some sterling work with the club around this issue.

It started after a few ignorant fans hurled homophobic abuse at Brighton fans back in February 2020, four were arrested and pleaded guilty to offences under Section five of the Public Order Act.

Two were also fined £200 plus costs and the other two £120 plus

The West Ham United Supporters’ Trust wants more restorative justice to rehabilitate ‘offenders’

costs. Each received a three-year football banning order.

The media put the boot in to the club for not giving them indefinite bans in line with its public commitment to a zero tolerance approach. But Jim Dolan, then cochair of PoI, took a different view.

‘Zero tolerance banning approaches are not the way forward,’ he said at the time. ‘Kicking people out of the stadiums doesn’t stop homophobia.

‘It merely kicks it outside of the stadium turnstiles. You don’t make positive change in the world by excluding people when they make mistakes.’

PoI requested an education-based approach. The club still implements indefinite bans but they may be rescinded if the fans successfully complete education sessions led by Kick It Out and including representatives from the club and PoI, which provides the real-lived experiences of someone from the community relevant to the abuse.

Alan Bush, fan education and engagement manager at Kick It Out, said: ‘What sort of society are we if we just ban people for life? Education can absolutely work hand in hand with a football banning order, but if you just give someone a lifetime ban then there’s nowhere to come back from.

‘Yes, certain behaviours are so horrific that we may not want that person inside a football stadium. I’m not going to recommend that every fan who goes through fan education goes back to football. But that has to be the aim.

‘Our objective is to rehabilitate offenders using restorative practices and hopefully reintegrate them back into football. If we do that, we’re going a long way toward achieving our goals.’

WHUST wants this important work extended to as many offences as possible – because across the board football fans get treated more harshly than anyone else.

Possession of a class A drug, for example, was upgraded in 2022 but only at football grounds. It’s no longer the crime that gets the punishment but where the offence took place.

The Sentencing Council, which tells judges how hard to punish offenders, has separate advice for offences at football grounds.

This means that a conviction for exactly the same offence at Royal Ascot, Lords cricket ground or Twickenham rugby stadium would result in a lighter sentence than at any football match. It’s victimisation of, and discrimination against, football fans.

Football banning orders normally automatically follow convictions for offences as minor as possession of alcohol while trying to enter the ground; sending a letter, electronic communication or article with intent to cause distress or anxiety, or even selling on your season ticket when you can’t use it – which, if you didn’t know, is illegal under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

All football matches are ‘designated events’ under the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc) Act 1985 but this is only the case for certain named events in other

sports.

This even makes carrying alcohol in vehicles on the way to a match illegal, let alone getting drunk. These are policed harder at football grounds than at horse racing, rugby or cricket venues.

The facts are that there are more arrests per head at Royal Ascot than even the Notting Hill Carnival and way more than at football, where there are only five arrests per 100,000 spectators. Yet football supporters get picked on.

There are additional specific ‘crimes’ for the beautiful game, with its own law, the Football (Offences) Act 1991.

This makes ‘indecent chanting at a football match’ an offence, for example. Anyone singing ‘Bowen’s on fire’ could fall foul of overzealous policing of that.

The hardline crackdown disproportionately affects the young and inexperienced. The government says that of the 1,624 football banning orders in force on 1 August 2023, ‘around 70% (1,133) were issued to those aged between 18 and 34 and 2% (39) were issued to those aged 17 and under’.

Who can hold up their hand and say they never made a mistake in their youth that they regret, said something then that they would not say now or behaved in a way they later considered inappropriate? We grow up. We learn.

WHUST believes everyone should be treated equally in law, with no lower burdens of proof or tougher sentences for football fans. We also believe in giving people a second chance.

Robert Banks @robbanks68

After only just escaping relegation in May, the managerial character of John Lyall was about to be tested to the core.

Not just by having the task of motivating a team of talented but under-achieving players but having to do it without the help of Ron Greenwood.

Greenwood was summoned by the FA to take over from Don Revie, who had left the England role to pursue other interests in the United Arab Emirates.

Lyall was now responsible for everything including scouting and recruitment, and there were no new arrivals as the Hammers took on Norwich City at Upton Park on the opening day, but the youth production line provided another debutant in Paul Brush.

A 3-1 defeat set the trend for the season. A 1-0 defeat at Filbert Street, was followed by defeat at home to Manchester City.

The club’s plight was not helped by an injury to Bonds, and a 5-0 thumping in the League Cup at Nottingham Forest.

Some respite at fellow strugglers Newcastle, but only after being 2-0 down, the Magpies confidence proved to be every bit as brittle as West Ham’s as the Irons fought back bravely to win 3-2.

A 2-2 draw at home to QPR again showed character as the Hammers twice came from behind, but defensive frailties were to the fore again at Ashton Gate as a 3-2 defeat left West Ham floun-

‘It was a hard

learning

experience and the pressure was now on’

We deep dive into the club’s fortunes during John Lyall’s tenure continuing with the 77-78 campaign

dering at the foot of the table.

A disallowed Pop Robson goal at home to Everton meant Lyall had to settle for a point before a 3-0 drubbing at Highbury – the worst display of the season by far.

Lyall’s first solo dip into the transfer market was to sign former Charlton striker Derek Hales for £110,000 from Derby County.

Whilst it would seem that defensive options might be more vital, it was an indication of Lyall’s philosophy that if the opposition scored three we should try to score four.

Middlesbrough only scored two on Hales’ debut, but it was enough to take both points as a bemused Hales left the pitch unable to

fathom how the team was cheered off the pitch after a defeat.

He had a lot to learn about West Ham fans. Lyall’s team only had four points from a possible 18 but whatever they lacked it was not effort.

Effort in abundance as Lyall’s men sought to avoid a repeat of their result at Forest and ground out a 0-0 draw at Upton Park. Typically, Hales picked up a knee injury on his debut so Lyall’s first signing was unavailable.

With two points for a win, it was always tight everywhere in the table especially at the bottom and a decent run of results could have easily put the team in mid table.

A 2-2 draw at Wolves was a start, and the same scoreline at home to Villa, leading with 12 minutes to go, young goalkeeper Mervyn Day was becoming increasingly erratic and lost the flight of the ball for a Villa equaliser.

Ipswich Town had a brilliant side forming under Bobby Robson and had lost only once to champions Liverpool, but the West Ham Way is to upset the form book and Hales struck twice at Portman Road in a 2-0 win, but there was no consistency.

A 1-0 defeat at Coventry was followed by a 3-3 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion in which Alan Devonshire scored his first West Ham goals and Billy Bonds picked up an injury that ruled him out of England’s World Cup qualifier against Italy, after his selection by Ron Greenwood.

Sensing that maybe Hales was not the answer and John Radford

proving to be even less effective, Lyall went into the transfer market again to sign David Cross from West Bromwich Albion.

Radford broke his jaw against Leeds in any event and was ruled out for some time before joining Blackburn.

Cross joined for £200,000 which was a lot of money in 1977, but even so on reflection appears to be a bargain. Cross provided the aggression and presence up front that had been sadly lacking.

With the worst home record in all four divisions of the Football League, it was perhaps inevitable that West Ham would get their first home win against Manchester United.

Hales managed to score in a 2-1 win before Cross came into the team at the turn of the year.

Having a focal point up front could not mask the fact that defence was still the principal problem and, whisper it quietly, primarily goalkeeper Mervyn Day who had lost all confidence.

Bobby Ferguson replaced him on New Year’s Day for a 3-2 win against Leicester in which Cross scored the first of his typically brave headers that went some way towards him earning the nickname ‘Psycho’.

But the die had been set: progress in the FA Cup was halted abruptly by QPR who adapted better to a watery bog of a pitch at Loftus Road to win the fourthround replay 6-1.

Defeats kept coming until at Easter, something finally seemed to click. Cross scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 home win over Ipswich

on Good Friday, and the next day Chelsea were put to the sword 3-1, though assisted by Chelsea’s goalkeeper being stretchered off and replaced by outfield player Tommy Langley.

The Hammers won four of their last seven games, blooding young defender Alvin Martin in the process. But Lyall could not expect to lose 20 matches out of 42 and still retain First Division status.

Yet that was still a possibility as the players returned to the pitch to take an ovation following their 2-0 final day defeat at home to Liverpool.

They somehow found themselves level on points with Wolves in the final relegation place, and Wolves still had to play two matches. If they lost both West Ham would survive.

It would not have been deserved and it didn’t happen. Wolves procured the necessary point that sent West Ham down in Lyall’s first season in sole charge of the team.

It was a harsh learning experience and one which the board felt he could rectify quickly. They kept their faith in Lyall, as did the fans. The pressure was now on him to deliver.

My YouTube series “The John Lyall Years” follows the fortunes of the club during John Lyall’s tenure, merging match footage with interviews, newspaper cuttings, news items, music, TV, and cinema from the time.

It is a must for anyone who remembers those heady days, or those who are curious to learn.

1977-78 is covered in Episodes 1417 – see @westhamhistory

‘Most

of the crowd were at their first West Ham game at London Stadium’

Dawud Marsh reflects on a subdued day for our final friendly before the new season began

I totally missed the memo on fans boycotting the Betway Cup in protest at ticket price rises.

I bought my tickets for me and the boys as soon as they came out as I believed we would miss both of the first two home games due to holidaying in Scotland throughout the second half of August. As it happened, we were able to make both matches.

On the day of the Betway Cup, I was reading some comments on social media and then discovered the story of the fans boycott and of the support from ex-players such as David Cross.

David joined Tony Cottee and

Frank McAvennie in condemning the club’s policy of above inflation ticket price rises and changes to concessionary rates, which is an attack on both long standing fans of the club and many ordinary families who will be priced out of attending football matches.

These changes threaten to create an even greater rift between fans and the club, and their claim that this is the only way for the club to compete with other Premier League teams does not wash when you do the math.

I have signed the petition and now donated my ticket price and the cost of a programme – which I

don’t buy anyway – towards Irons Supporting Foodbanks and have now put myself in the loop to keep updated on the latest developments.

That said, and hopefully I may be forgiven for my previous ignorance, I attended the match and saw the team clinch the Betway Cup via a penalty shoot out after a 2-2 draw in normal time.

The walk to the stadium takes just a few minutes as we are lucky to live close by. And the Olympic Park is a beautiful legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games that makes you feel outside of the city.

You could tell the attendance

was going to be very low for the match, with very few fans mingling around the stadium before kick off, and only some food stalls open with the usual atmosphere lacking.

Inside the stadium there were lots of families with younger children, and I guess this was probably a good game to bring the family to, especially as an introduction to watching the Hammers.

But there were lots of empty seats in the lower tiers and no one, apart from a handful of visiting RC Celta de Vigo fans in the upper tiers. They out-sang us throughout the match.

I was curious to see some of our new signings and hoped everyone who had put pen to paper to commit themselves to the club before this match would play some part in the game, even as a late substitute.

For much of the game it played out like a friendly, in the first half we had goals from Bowen and Paqueta, with Mihailo pulling one back before half time.

During each half the game paused for a water break that gave the teams and the managers a chance to regroup and adjust the game plan whilst taking a break.

Bowen’s goal was a peach and shows how lively and alert he can be. He controlled Paqueta’s cross perfectly to bring the ball down to his right foot and slot home from close range.

Paqueta took advantage of some great interplay with Bowen and Antonio and showed some

individual brilliance to lob the keeper to restore the lead.

Out of the first half team, Bowen (now team captain), Kudus and Coufal stood out for me.

Bowen was lively, Kudus determined and strong and causing their defence all sorts of problems, and Coufal was solid down the right trying to snuff out any threats. Killman seemed solid in defence but Aguerd looked out of his depth.

There was no half time entertainment or quiz, and once the game restarted, it was clear Celta de Vigo players were taking it up a level in terms of going heavier on the tackles.

If this hadn’t been a friendly I’m sure the ref would have issued quite a number of yellow cards as the match progressed.

In the second half, Fabianski made some outstanding saves and we didn’t really get a good enough look at our other new signings who came on.

I was hoping for Fullkrug to score, but that was a big ask. It was great to see Earthy back on the pitch and I was hoping for a flash of his excellent movement and positioning for his first senior goal against the Hatters last season, but not this time.

Apart from the Pablo Duran equaliser, the second half was pretty drab and it became inevitable the match would end 2-2 and be decided by a penalty shoot out.

With virtually the entire visiting team substituted and most of our side changed, it’s no surprise the game didn’t really get going.

I was asked by a fan sitting next

to me ‘During the Premier League games, are the upper levels open as well?’.

I feel that for many people, this was their first game at London Stadium and there was very little, if any atmosphere apart from a few chants from a sparse crowd.

I did not recognise anyone around me during the match and the usual voices and characters that help make the atmosphere were absent, probably in solidarity against the hike in ticket prices.

Overall, I think there is still work to do with the team, especially considering the new signings not having had enough pre-season play time for them all to settle in and for Julen Lopetegui to establish his style of play, especially with the recent signings.

It felt pretty much like last season, lots of sideways, backwards balls and slowly playing out from the back putting ourselves under pressure.

Not enough forward movement for me, although Kudus and Bowen were both actively making runs and looking for forward balls, and players turning inside instead of playing the ball out wide.

I didn’t really see anything to get me excited about the coming season, but then it was just another friendly and the priority was surely for every player to get their match fitness up and avoid any injuries.

I’m going to mix it up this season as I have finally found one of my film cameras – a Nikon F100 – and I will be shooting film for some of the matches, giving myself just 72 exposures to capture the match!

Brian Penn

West Ham players have sparkled on the Olympic stage for over 100 years

Today we also have an inextricable link with the Games with us occupying the 2012 stadium

With the Paris Olympics capping a glorious summer of sport, we should remember the contribution that Hammers' players have made to the greatest show on earth.

The modern Olympics were revived in 1896, but football was initially overlooked in a Corinthian age that spawned the legend 'citius, altius, fortius' ('faster, higher, stronger’).

Competitors were amateur although the lines would sometimes become blurred. The 1900 games was the first to feature a football tournament, which consisted of only three teams.

Great Britain were the winners

and represented by the now defunct Upton Park F.C. Nothing to do with our claret and blue lovelies but they did play at West Ham Park.

In 1908 Team GB fielded a more representative side drawn from several clubs but interestingly all were English players.

Nobody paid attention to one team entering as Great Britain yet competing as four nations on other occasions.

This arrangement would soon be challenged as it clearly threatened the status quo. The 1908 Olympics was also the first to feature a Hammers player.

Harry Stapley joined West Ham from Woodford Town in 1905. A teacher by profession, he only played when the day job allowed.

Although slightly built, the centre forward was an instant hit scoring 41 goals in 75 appearances. But Harry’s greatest claim to fame was the gold medal awarded in a wonderfully manic football tournament.

Eight teams were due to play in a knock-out competition at the now demolished White City Stadium.

Bohemia and Hungary withdrew before a ball was kicked and their ties awarded to the Netherlands and France.

For some inexplicable reason

France were allowed to field two teams but their ‘B’ team was thrashed 9-0 by Denmark.

Team GB cruised to a 12-1 victory against Sweden including a brace from Harry Stapley. The Netherlands were then soundly beaten in the semi-final with all four goals scored by Harry.

France’s semi-final descended into farce as they were 5-1 down at half time against Denmark. The French idiotically demanded a supply of strong cigarettes at half time.

The aforementioned fags were obviously not forthcoming. France contrived to concede a dozen more goals in the second half as they lost 17-1.

Harry Stapley was Team GB’s top scorer with six goals as they defeated Denmark 2-0 in the final.

In all honesty the only decent team Great Britain played was Denmark; and the scorelines clearly demonstrate the mediocrity of opposition. But as the old maxim states ‘you can only beat who’s put in front of you’.

Great Britain triumphed in similarly emphatic style at the 1912 games. Hungary and Finland were dispatched with ease whilst Denmark were defeated 4-2 in the final.

The FA’s stormy relationship with FIFA later came to a head over the distinction between professionals and amateurs.

They subsequently withdrew from the Olympic tournaments of 1924 and 1928, which were won by Uruguay.

With the inaugural World Cup in 1930, it was apparent that Uru-

guay were playing with virtually the same line-up.

From 1936, the principle was firmly established that Olympic football should be strictly amateur.

However, between 1948 and 1988 the Soviet Bloc would dominate the Olympic football tournament.

Hungary led by Ferenc Puskas won gold in 1952 and was the first of three Olympic titles for the Magyars.

The Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Czech Republic, Poland and East Germany shared a further six titles between them.

The players were ostensibly amateur and usually enlisted in the armed forces or at the very least state employees.

In reality they were full time athletes who benefited from a centrally-funded training programme.

Team GB fought to compete with the Eastern European powerhouse but it was a fruitless exercise.

A fourth place finish in 1948 was as good as it got. In other years they fell in the preliminary round, quarter finals and group stage.

After three failures to qualify, Great Britain finally gave up the ghost in 1972. The FA abolished the distinction between professionals and amateurs in 1974.

As the Berlin Wall came down and the Soviet Bloc crumbled, Olympic football encountered its own transformation.

The IOC was shedding its amateur ethos and agreed to admit professional players at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.

But FIFA remained twitchy about

the World Cup’s status as the premier football competition.

So a plan was hatched to allow countries outside of Europe and South America to field their best teams.

Meanwhile players from UEFA and CONMEBOL countries would only participate if they had never played in the World Cup.

This fuzzy policy was abandoned at the 1992 Barcelona games. Olympic football would now allow participants under the age of 23 with a maximum of three over age players in each squad.

It seemed the ideal compromise for what was basically an U23 World Cup tournament. Fittingly Spain won the 1992 title and included a certain Pep Guardiola in their line-up.

An exciting Nigerian side beat Argentina in the Atlanta games of 1996. For the Eagles it was a golden generation that featured Celestine Babayaro, Kanu, Jay-Jay Okocha and Daniel Amokachi.

Team GB was still cut adrift by the historical independence of the home nations. But when London won the right to stage the 2012 Olympics, feverish negotiations ensued.

The Scottish, Welsh and Irish FAs remained opposed and declined to put players forward.

FIFA’s executive committee gave assurances that Team GB’s participation ‘would not affect the existing individual status of the four British football associations’.

But was still seen as the beginning of a slippery slope, so it was agreed that only English players would be selected. However

this compromise would soon be fudged.

Team GB would be managed by former Hammers player Stuart Pearce. The 17-strong squad eventually included 12 players from England and five from Wales.

The latter boasted Ryan Giggs, Aaron Ramsey and ex Hammer Craig Bellamy, whilst the English contingent was a mixture of young players on the cusp of the full squad.

Pearce was told to avoid using players who had just played in the European Championships, so opportunity knocked for a certain Basildon-born central defender.

James Tomkins broke into the West Ham first team a week shy of his nineteenth birthday in 2008. By the 2011/12 season, Tomkins had established himself in the first team. He gained 10 England U21 caps and was given the dreaded ‘new Bobby Moore’ tag.

Great Britain sported contrasting blue Union Jack kits designed by Stella McCartney. It was a shirt that people loved and hated in equal measure.

But they made a bright start beating Uruguay and the United Arab Emirates and drawing with Senegal.

Disappointingly they lost in the quarter finals to South Korea on penalties. James Tomkins made two appearances and became one of a dozen Englishmen to have played Olympic football in the modern era.

Women’s football arrived fashionably late to the Olympic party and was first staged in 1996.

The USA have dominated winning five out of eight titles. They were also victorious in Paris and coached with aplomb by our very own Emma Hayes.

Team GB was again confronted by the same issues that plagued the men’s team. As host nation of the 2012 Olympics, they would also enter a women's team.

The debate rumbled on with no real conclusion as the protagonists remained entrenched. The competition began with an essentially English line-up.

They cruised through the group stages but lost 2-0 in the quarter final to Canada. More internal wrangling scuppered the GB entry for 2016.

In 2020, an agreement was reached with the other three home nations. The highest ranking home nation would be nominated for the qualifying phase.

As beaten World Cup semi-finalists, England duly qualified for the Olympic tournament.

Team GB stalled at the quarter finals and were beaten 4-3 by Australia despite a hat trick from West Ham-fan Ellen White.

England were again the top ranked home nation for 2024 qualification. But missed out when they failed to finish top of their Nations League group.

The Paris Olympics would sadly be missing the women’s Great Britain team, but West Ham had four players lining up for their respective countries.

McKenzie Arnold and Katrina Gorry played for Australia; whilst Risa Shimizu and Riko Ueki helped Japan to the quarter finals.

There is now an inextricable link between West Ham and the Olympics; we now occupy the stadium that was centrepiece to the 2012 games.

This was where Usain Bolt cruised to a sprint double; and where fans were enthralled by Super Saturday as Great Britain won three gold medals in the space of 44 minutes.

Shouldn’t we embrace this Olympic history that sits under our very noses?

With the season approaching I am looking into our new signings and where I believe we will be placed come May next year.

So far, we have signed six players in Manuela Pavi, Shekiera Martinez, Shelina Zardorsky, Kinga Szemik, Camila Saez and Ines Belloumou.

Due to letting five players leave at the end of the season, it was vital we brought players in, and we are finally doing so.

Zardorsky was a must after a brilliant loan at the end of last season and a player Rehanne Skinner knows well.

So, seeing her sign permanently has lifted the squad massively. Last season it was our defence that needed the improvement so signing three more defenders should hopefully allow us to push higher up the league.

Also, with our captain and goalkeeper, Mackenzie Arnold leaving for America, it is great we have already found her replacement, Szemik.

The ex-Stade de Reims goalkeeper has big shoes to fill but hopefully she sets the world alight early.

I believe we may sign one or two more players before the window closes but they will be younger players who may not be starters.

We have a very experienced squad and I’m hoping we sign a few younger players to come off the bench near the end of games to give us a boost.

If we do sign extra players, I presume they will be wingers as that is the only area we are slightly

‘If we stay injury-free then we could have a season to remember’

Milly Thomson looks ahead to the start of the WSL and asks if our women are set for a season to remember

short in now.

Having Dagny Brynjarsdottir back for this season is like a new signing in itself, she missed the whole of last season due to being pregnant with her second child.

The midfielder is set to come straight back in the side and take back the captain’s armband she wore for two seasons before her absence.

The 33-year-old has played 58 times for us and scored 13 times. The defensive midfielder is set to start back in the league alongside Katrina Gorry and Kristie Mewis, which in my opinion is one of the strongest midfields in the league, I just hope they can all stay fit.

Our first game in the WSL is against Manchester United away. It is definitely not the easiest game to start off with, but it might be the best time to play them, especially when they haven’t

brought in many players to cover the ones who have left.

The game after that is our first home game of the season and we will be playing Liverpool. Yet again it will not be an easy game at all but with the home crowd behind us I wouldn’t be surprised if we did something spectacular.

When the WSL season finishes in May, I will be hoping we will be sat fifth or sixth because we have improved our squad in all the vital positions, and I think we understand more how Skinner wants us to play.

I can’t see us pushing top four for the European places, but I hope we are close enough and progress where we finished off last season.

My only worry is injuries, but if we can keep them away, I believe this may be a season to remember.

‘Hammers

expect to see

me and are always generous, as are away fans’

We meet some of those Irons Supporting Foodbanks volunteers who we see on our way to the game

Just for a change in writing about what we have been doing, I would like to introduce you to some of the volunteers that help us to achieve what we do.

Firstly, Megan Roberts. She is a local government officer and a brand new season ticket holderblock 104 represent!

Originally from King’s Lynn in Norfolk, she has been settled in Bethnal Green for 10 years and with ISF since January 2020.

Megan used to volunteer at the food bank in Beckton, Newham Foodbank, for five years. This Foodbank was fundamental in starting the Irons Supporting Foodbanks journey.

Megan manages the ISF Instagram and is now branching out into TikTok content. She is always asking for volunteers to be in the content. In her spare time she enjoys reading and booking her next holiday in Europe.

You’ll see Debbie Donovan collecting outside Hackney Wick Station. She has been a West Ham fan for 48 years, having been taken to her first game aged seven. She met me a number of years ago, and I was talking about doing Foodbank collections then, so when started ISF, she joined me.

She says: ‘Whilst I think that the existence of foodbanks and the huge increase in their use in a country as rich as ours is dis-

graceful, people are in real need, and knowing we are helping to feed and clothe families in poverty and people without a home, is a massive motivation.

‘West Ham fans expect to see me now and are really generous, as are members of the public. Away fans also regularly give me donations and positively comment on the fact that ISF exists.

‘I also get support from local traders, like the station hot dog seller, who encourages his customers to give me their change and staff at the Lord Napier, who take care of my bucket during the game and also encourage donations.’

Our Stratford Walk volunteer is Victoria Antoinette who started volunteering with Irons Supporting Foodbanks back in November 2023.

‘I approached the group to see if they could help me find warm clothes for children in Newham who were residing in hotels as well as chocolate treats for children in hospital,’ she explains. ‘I could not believe the amount of

support the group offered to the community in Newham.

‘Having worked in Newham all my life, I was grateful to now have a link with a group whose impact I could actually see.’

Victoria is a published crime fiction writer whose books are all set in Newham, East London.

She continued: ‘My books highlight the effect of gangs on young people and their communities and soon I will be writing a book about influential women who support West Ham, the unseen, unsung community heroes.’

If your mum, nan or partner would like to feature in this book please get in touch via antoinetteauthor@outlook.com.

Last season you may have seen Christine Bull on Stratford Walk. Christine was ‘on loan’ to us whilst the Supporters’ Club was negotiating for new premises. This season you’ll find Christine at the new Club venue, with a bucket for ISF.

As for me, as the founder of ISF, when I’m not volunteering I’m working at my own business, where I manage a number of European customers on behalf of a Taiwanese aftermarket parts manufacturer for commercial vehicles. We have customers spread across the continent from Western Europe to the Baltic States.

ISF is this season working on match days alongside a number of groups that we support, for which we are always grateful.

If anyone wishes to collect with us for an hour or so, please stop by at the gazebo on a matchday or contact us via ironsfoodbanks. co.uk

LAST WORD Lucy's

Positive individual performances will hopefully start to deliver results

Coming into this season, new signings were what we wanted and new signings were what we got.

We can’t complain that this isn’t a fairly rearranged squad, without being unrecognisable.

Many have already had their chance to shine and as individuals they have given pretty positive displays.

But with one league win under our belt so far as I write, this group needs to gel and get results sharpish.

We’ve had so many opportunities in games and just a couple more of those chances taken could have meant points.

In the first three games, statistically speaking, we’ve hit the woodwork twice, had eight shots on target and scored four goals. With a shooting accuracy of 19% so far, that’s got to improve quickly to avoid confidence dropping and fans getting impatient.

For some perspective on that,

last season, which fans classed as ‘poor’, shooting accuracy was 34% overall.

I know, I know, we’re only three games in, but those percentages and these margins can make a big difference come May next year.

Having so many new signings is always a risk - but now they’ve had their time to become more of a team and it’s down to business from now.

Having said that, we’ve got Man City out the way, as we like to say, and I don’t think anyone was embarrassed by the result or the performance.

Haaland was the difference and there aren’t many teams who have an equivalent.

On paper, August could have

ended in no points though, so three is alright.

Onwards and upwards to the rest of the month where we simply have to be getting points against Fulham and Brentford.

Chelsea is a tricky one, who knows how that will go. As for Liverpool away in the cup is, well it was fun while it lasted.

Talking of silverware and getting a team to gel, this is a big season for Bowen - being the captain, if he can have a really positive influence on the pitch and in the dressing room, a nice run in the FA Cup could give him a dream trophy lift.

It’s obviously not solely up to him to keep this team on track, but if he keeps being his brilliant self, as he was against Palace, his teammates will follow.

Let’s hope for some momentum for the next few games - momentum builds confidence, confidence reaps results, results keep everyone happy.